Lumber-stacking machine.



J. BABCOCK.

LUMBER STACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED APR. H3. 1911.

NVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY LUMBER STACKING MACHINE.

APPLiEATlON FILED APR. I8, 19w.

1,274,839 Patented Aug. (5, 1918.

6 SHEETS*SHEET 2.

I I i i l i i 1 mg, q

INVENTOR wirwsessas ,7. 1 I I Ev y W ATTORNEY 1. BABCOCK- LUMBER STACKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION mm APR. IH. m1.

R w M )T V 6 m wa UL. p An 1 mm .W t m J mu 3 1 WITNESSES ATTORNEY APPLICATION FILED APR. 18. I917.

Patented Aug. 6, 1918.; 6 HEETSSHEET 5 INVENTOR WITNESSES Arrolmev' J. BABCOCK.

LUMBER STACKING MACHINE.

APPUCATION HLED APR. 19, I917.

Vl'utented Aug". 6, 1918.

ESHEETS-SHEET 6.

INVENTOR Wi N Jabzfiaaaao? mmyam mun JOHN BABGOCK, 0F LONG ISLAND CITY, NEW YORK.

LUMBER-STACKING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN BABCOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lon Island City, in the county of Queens an State of New York, have 1nvented new and useful Improvements in Lumber-Stacking Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a lumber stacking machine and one object is to provide a device including a conveyer or a plurality of conveyers for receiving lumber from a wagon to be unloaded, said conveyer or conveyers elevating the boards to the required height permitting them to be placed on the top of a. pile of lumber in a yard; the conveyers bein so mounted on a portable platform that they are adapted to receive boards of a given length, say eighteen feet, when a wagon is bein unloaded within an alleyway of a yard w ich may be about fourteen feet in width.

A further object is to provide in a device of the character indicated a conveyer or plurality of conveyors to be mounted on a portable platform for receiving boards as they are unloaded and elevating them as specified, said conveyer o'r conveyers being positioned to receive boards when placed at an angle to the pile'of lumber being built up and at anangle to the direction in which the alleyway extends, said angle being perhaps of about 45 de ees.

A further ob ect is to provide an elevating conveyer or a plurality of conveyers for carrying the boardsv from an elevation slightly above the ground to the top of a pile of lumber, being built u with means for reversin the direction 0 travel of the conveyers when the boards are to be lowered 'from the pile toward the ground, and means for automatically discharging the boards from the conveyers when they reach a. given position in their upward travel.

A further object is to provide in connection with a. conve er or conveyers mounted 'as s cified, suita le means for supporting a p atform uponwhich a workman may stand and receive the boards as they are auto'matically discharged from the conveyers at a point adjacent to the top of the pile of lumber Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 18, 1817.

Patented Aug. 6. 1918.

Serial No. 162,913.

A further object is to provide in connection with a device of the type specified means adapted to be thrown into position manually for changing the elevation of the platform on which the workman stands. said means being operated from a main driving shaft.

A still further object is to provide means whereby the workman standing upon the platform at a point aujacent to the top of the pile of lumber may control the operation of the conveyers, thereby allowing him sufficient time to place a board in proper posi tion on said conveyers when lumber is being removed from the pile.

A still further object is to [)l'OVide means for automatically discharging the boards from the upper portion of the convevers at a point adjacent to the top of the pile; said means bein removable in part when the conveyers are being operated for removing the boards from the pile and discharging them at the bottom by employing suitable discharge means.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements, hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is :1 pers ective view.

Fig. 2 is a view 0 the device in front elevation.

- Fig. 3 is a top plan view, this view and the preceding view showing the position of the device with reference to the piles or stacks of lumber.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevatio Fig. 5 is a view partly m section showing one of the devices extending transversely of the conveyers for receiving the boards.

Fig. 6 shows details of construction described below and also illustrated in Figs. 5 and 7.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section showing the means located near the lower e nds of the conveyers for receiving the boards.

Figs. 8 and 9 are further views partly in section and partly in elevation showing the devices near the respective ends of the conveyers for receiving the boards.

Fig. 10 is a section on the line 10--10 of piles or stacks of lumber. On this platform arn mountcd a plurality of upright at tho roar corners, an additional upright at one sido near ono of tho corncrs of the plat form, an iutcrnualiato platform for support ing ccrtain driving uu-chanism. and an upper structure for supporting shafts and gearing through which motion is conroycd to thc trawling dcviuos for clcratiuo thc board-s.

A structurc cons! itnt ing the inclim-d piano alon, whirh tho hoards arc guidcd from a position adjaccnt to a wagon or tho likv to an clcrat ion sullicicnt to onahlc lhuir rcady removal f r disposition upon thc top of a pile or stark is mountcd at an anglo with one sido of thc platform constituting thc haso and thnrnl'ortat an auglo with thc direction in which the alloy' hctwocn thc lnniher piles i-xtonds. 'lho transrcrsv inclination of tho planc mentioned forms an important fcaturo of tho inroution, inasumoh as it permits of the use of the machine in an alleyway having, a width considcrahly loss than the length of tho hoards to he stacked.

Tho surface of tho inrlinvd piano is providod with channels along which chains or traveling doviccs pass during: tht-ir upward or downward morcmcnt, and thc oppositiruns of thctso chains pass through rhannclcd memhcrs mountcd in thc roar of thc inclincd plano and suitably :spaccd.

fiuitahlo moans tor rcrui\'in; thc hoards at tho lower portion of the inclined planc as they arcv rciuorcd from tho wagon arc providcd, and tho hourda arc cngagcd h devious carried liy tho chains at intorrals for tho purpose of cloriiting said boards to -tho roquired height.

Near tahc upper portion of thc atrm-tnrc a platform extruding lranswrsuly of [hr inolinod plane is :uljuatahly mountcd and is proridod with a runway for tho accommodation of thc. workman romoriug thc hoards from a carricr or carriagc into which tho v aro antouullioally disohargcd hy suitahlc moans upon. rcaching tho propcr clcralion. 'lhispla tt'orm and oarriagc aro mountcd in or suspended from a framcwork which travols along tho inclined piano. and which is provided with .-;ti 'i]')ort'ing hrackrts having llilllii'l'l thri-adcd portions ongagod by arrows extruding from tho lowcr portion 0 tho piano to tho upper portion thereof and drircu from the main shaft, thus providing for the gradual cileration ot' the platform and its carrier so that thoso elonu-nls will be in propcr position with l'tftl'tJlCQ to the top of thc lunihcr pilc as it bring gradually huilt. up.

'lho main dririug sha t't nuulntcd ahmc tho hasc or platform is drircn lJ a suitable moto' and moans arc proi idcd uhcrehy thr scrcws may ho drircn in citllcl' dll'oclimi and tho trarcling dci'iccs or rhains correspondiugly oporatcd in order that tho boards may ho clcratcd or lowcrcd from thr pilo as dosirod. t

Rer'crring now to the drawings in detail, tho hasu or platform is dcsiguatod lOand is mountod on aXlcs 12 and H rarricd upon whccls 1:3. plurality of uprights 16 and 17 arc mountcd upon oppositn corners of tho rcar portion oi thc nn-c. and an additional upright [S is mouutcd :nliaccnt to one of said uprights lirshnamcdt A platform l9 is mouutcd at a point intorincdiatc of thc uppcr and loucr portions of the structure and cal-rinsshal'tjlt) uiountcd in hcarings 21, said :shai't llt lllg driwn from t'hc main shaft 2:! which in turn is opcratcd from the motor shown a-onrcnlionally at 23.

'lho uppcr portion of the framework inchairs a transvcrstmcinhor 25. and below tho lattc' a platform or the like, 26, upon which thc shat't and :carin; for drii'ing the chains aro inonntcd. lhcac clcmonts are drircn ,t'rom shall 20, the main uppcr shafthcing dcsignatcd 27. Thu front: portion of thc .structurc alon; which thv hoards travel includcs a plurality of spar-rd bars or strips 2*. :29, iitl and Ill proridcd with channels 32 along' which tho opi-ratiru portions of the chains 753 trawl. lhcsc chains an: proridcd with cn; "n; in; dc\icr 34 which lQcciH tliB hoards to ho clc\ atrd or loi'rcrcd, as the case may hc. 'lhc channcl i-ucuihors for 'rt'ooiring. thc uppnsilc rains of thc chains arshown morn particularly in Fig. -i-and arc dosignalod 3R.

in Figs. .2 and 3 l haxc shown conri-ntion all ccrlain lumhor pil 's or stack-s with alleyways tlu-rchctwccn in our ol which tho |na' rhinc is opt-rating.

h'ctorring to thc driving mcchauism in de tail, thrv motor .235 is [u'oridrd with a shaft. Itl carrying a pnllcy -ll driving a hclt 42 which imparts motion to a pullcy 43 shown in l ig. l and carriod on shaft. 22. '32 t'tlHSlllllltS a main driving; shaft and carrics a pullc H driving hvlt 45 aml policy 46 on .shal't 20. said shaft last-named carrying a pnllcy 4? driving halt 48 whirh imparts morcnu-nt. to a pulley 49'mmintc-d on uppi-r transrcrsc shaft 27. Shaft. 27 carrirs a plurality of hi-vrlod gear wheels 50 Shaft 51, 52 and 53 meshing with gear wheels 54, 55, 56 and 57 carried by short shafts 58 mounted in bearings formed in brackets 59 carried upon platform 26. Rigidly mount ed with reference to gear wheels 54, 55, 56 and 57 are sprocket wheels, 60, 61, 62 and 63 each of which carries a chain 34 and drives the latter. The chains are carried at their lower ends on sprocket wheels 65 mounted in brackets 66 carried by the base or platform 10.

The chains 34 are driven continuously during the operation of elevating the boards, but duringthe operation of lowerin the boards from the top of the stuck it is desirable to discontinue the operation of the chains at intervals, in order that the workman on the upper latform may have time to place the boards in position to be lowered. Provision is therefore made for stopping the chains or conveyors by disconnecting pulley 44'from shaft 22 through the medium of a clutch, one member of which is shown at 68, such memberbeing operated by a bell crank'lever 69 under the control of, a connecting device 70 extending to the upper portion of the structure and pivotally secured to a, bell crank lever 71 pivoted at 72 and having connection with a cord or the like 73 extending downwardly to a. compensating device mounted on the movable platform and within reach of'the operator eled thereon. This compensating device provides for the increased or decreased distance between the upper end of lever 71 and the shaft and drum on which the flexible device 73 is wound.

The screws for controlling the sition of the platform are designated 75 and 76 and are provided at their lower ends with bevear wheels 77 meshing respectively with Tieveled gear whecls earned on a. shaft 79 mounted transversely of the structure and positioned immediately behind the inclined plane. Shaft 79 carries'a pulley 80, driven by belt 81. and pulley 82 mounted on shaft 22. A clutch 83 provides means for throwing pulley 52 into and out of engagement with the shaft 22 and therefore provides for controlling the rotation of screws 75 and 76 for elevating the platform and its carrier.

A lever 89 is pivoted at its lower end and cooperates with a segment 90 and controls clutch 83 and clutch 88. the latter control being effected by means of a link 91 having connection with the lever at a suitable point. Belt 86 is twisted as shown and imparts a reverse movement to shaft 79 for imparting a corresponding movement to screws 75 and 78 during the operation of lowering the plat arm and carriaige after throwing in clutch 58.

The screws 75 and 76 cooperate with threaded members 96 carried upon plate members 97 forming a part of brackets 98 which extend outwardly from the surface of the inclined plane and carry horizontal supporting members J9 from which the platform is suspended. These brackets include braces 100 and said brackets extend through openings between the strips or bars 28, :39, 250 and 31 along which the chains travel. The pitch of the screws 75 and 76 is such that a comparatively slow movement is imparted to the structure supporting the platform. Threaded members 96 are each provided with slots 96 T-shaped in cross section and adapted to operate as guides. These devices 96 are slidable with reference to T-sha )cd'angle bars 97 mounted parallelly with reference to the screws 75 and 76. A sectional view of this construction is shown in Fig. 10, the section being on line 10 10 of Fig. 9.

Extending transversely of the brackets 98 and connected therewith is a bar 101 carrying deflectiinc devices 102 which extend downwardly, and thelower ends of these devices are in contact with the surfaces :28, 29', 30' and 31' which are positioned in a plane substantially coincident with the inner or lniddle portions of the channels carrying the chains. This construction makes it possible to carry the boards in such position that when they reach the discharge elevation they \vill be slightly spaced from the lower edges of deflecting devices 102, at which time the-boards will be thrown outwardly upon aprtpi Ill-l detachably secured to one cdgof receiving device and carrier 105. This device. includes a plurality of side members 1013 am 107 bctwccn which a scvies of rollers 10 is mounted for receiving the. boards \vlu-n dischargedtransversely across tluixfapron 104. i

The dchichable connotation for the apron 10+ incl nlep"'hinge members 105) secured by pins ,lll i: 'l'hc apron is detached when boards m3 being removed from the top of a stack a d placed first on the carrier and 11?: secured to transverse nu-nnlwrslltL the opposite ends of which are connected with one of the. members H3. 114 above mcntinn d. An outer transverse bar 120 constitutes a front railing for the platform. The underside of the. carrier is provided with U-- shaped members llll adapted to extend around members 116 above referred to and constitute guiding devices, thcrel'iy permitting tla. movement of the carrier or carriage toward and away from the surface of the inclined plane.

In removingboards from the top of a stack, the workman first placesthe boards on the carrier and then transfei's them to the edge tlitiliOf adjacent to the traveling members or conveyors whence they are ilaced in engagement with devices it on t ese convcycrs. The conveyors are then placedm operation for the purpose of lower ng the board, this being effected by means of a device within reach of the workman and connected with the upper bell crank lever 71. A transverse shaft 120' carries a. plurality of arms 121 from which cords or the like 122 depend so that they may be reached by the operator from any position on the platform, and said shaft 120 carries a compensating device for the purpose of taking up the slack in the cord 73 due to the movement of the platform to various positions with reference tothe 'top of the inclined plane. lhis compensating device includes a drum 125 around which the cord 73 passes and one end of this drum isprovided with clutch teeth'127 adapted to be engaged by a pin or other suitable device 128 mounted rigidly on the shaft. The drum is mounted loosely on said shaft, and asp ring 130 serves to retain the engaging device and the clutch teeth in proper position to permit the co operation of the elements. A spring 131 mounted on the opposite 'end of'theshaft between a bracket 132 and the pin 133 serves to return the shaft to normal position when partly rotated by pulling on cord 122. A

slight. movement of the shaft longitudinally in order to produce positive engagement between the clutch teeth and the coiiperating Engaging device 128 is accomplished through the medium of a member 135 having a cam surface, said member 135 bein mounted rigidly on the shaft. and engaging the inclined surface 136 of the bracket 132.

The apron 101 is provided on the underside with brackets 140 whichbear against one of the side bars of the carrier or carriage and assists in supporting saidapron in an inclined position -for the purpose of receiving the, boards when they are thrown outwardly by the deflecting devices above described.

A horizontally mounted bar 145 is supported on brackets 146 each including a plurality of outwardly extending members des ignated 117 and 148, the portions 148 being provided with hinged members 149 at their outer ends for the purpose of engaging complementary hinged members 150 carried by a detachable bar 151 projeming outwardly from the outer edge of the horizontal bar above mentioned. Said hinged members are engaging devices 31 thereon.

secured by means of pins 152, and the bars 145 and 15] are further secured by means of angular braces 153 secured to bar 151 and boards.

liar 151 is employed when the conveying devices are being used for elevating theboards to the topof the pile, it only ie 111 necessary to place said boards in position oii transverse bar 145 and within the space bu tween the inclined plane and bar 151.

\Vhen the boards are being lowered, means for discharging the same from the traveling conveyers are provided, and this structure includes a carrier-1155 provided with rollers 166 and with deflecting devices 167 extending from the inner edge of the carrier to a position adjacent to the surface of the inclined plane, spaces'or slots 168 being provided for the assage of the chains and the \Vhcn the boards come into proper position as they are lowered they are engaged by devices 167 and are deflected outwardly to the horizontal carrier just mentioned, being then -in position for easy removal bythe workman sta tioned at the lower end of the device who may desire to place the boards upon a wagon or otherwise dispose of them.-

The deviceroceiving the boards as they are discharged at the lower end is provided with a plurality of hinged members 170, 171, adapted to be detachably secured to at wardly extending members 147 card the brackets 116. These elements may be secured by means of short threaded pins or the like 172 carrying nuts 173. Hinged members 170, 171 are secured byniealr of rods or pins 177,the purpose being to render carrier 165 and discharge member detachable from the bar 145.

The brackets 146 are each provided with apcrtured lugs 1-17 constituting guiding members, these lugs being engaged .by upwardly extending rods 180 along which the brackets may be moved for the purpose of adjusting the position thereof and conse quently the position of the bar 145 and the respective members carried thereby when boards are bein elevated or lowered as the case may be. he position of bar 145 and the brackets carried thereby is controlled by n'ieans of a plurality of flexible devices 181 and 182 passing over pulleys 183 and extending downwardly and around a winding shaft- 184 operated by means of :1 crank arm 185. Shaft 18*! may be rovided with a. ratchet wheel 186 engaged y a dog 187 for the purpose of retaining the shaft in suitable position Drum 125 is held in position to hold cord 73 taut by means of a coiledspring 125' secured to the flanged portion of the drum and to shaft 120.

1. In a lumber stacking machine, a framework including an inclined member, conveyers for moving a board along the inclined member, certain of said conveyers being positioned in advance of the others for elevating a board while positioned diagonally with reference to the framework,

, means for receiving a board discharged from the conveyers, driving means for said conveyers. and means'operated from the driving means for changing the position of the means receiving the board.

In a lumber stacking machine, a framework including an inclined member, conveyers for moving a board along said member, certain of said conveyers being positioned in advance of the others for elevating a board while positioned diagonally with reference to the framework, means for receiving a board discharged from the conveyers, deflecting means for causing such 'ischarge of the boards,.driving means for said conveyers, and means operated from the driving means for changing the position of the means receiving the board.

3. In a lumber stacking machine, a framework, including a base portion, an inclined member mounted thereon, said member having an inclination in two directions with reference to the longitudinal axis of the base, conveyers for moving a board along the inclined member and means for driving the conveyers.

' 4. In a lumber stacking machine, a framework including a base portion, a member having a transverse inclination with reference to the. longitudinal axis of the base and conveyers cooperating with said member for moving a board from one end thereof toward the other end.

5. In a lumber stacking machine, a framework including a base portion, a plurality of conveyers mounted abovp the base, an incl incd member mounted on the base, said conveyers being positioned to move a board upwardly along the inclined member, the conveyers being adapted to carry a board in a horizontal position, and said inclined member having a width greater than the width of the base. the sides of the member and base being substantially coinciden 6. 'In a lumber stacking machine, a framework, including a base portion, a plurality of conveyers mounted above the base, a member inclined rearwardly and upwardly with reference to the front of the base and inclined transversely with reference to the transverse axis of the base.

7. In a lumber stacking machine, a frame-' work, a plurality of conveyers mounted therein, the operative runs of the conveyers being in a plane inclined upwardly and transversely with reference to the framework, driving means for the conveyers, an inclined member along which the boards are moved by the conveyers, and means for antomatically removin the boards from said conveyers upon reac ling a given elevation during the upward movement of the con veyers.

8. In a lumber stacking machine, a framework, a plurality of conveyers mounted therein, the operative runs of the conveyers being in a plane inclined upwardl and transveisely with reference to the ramework, driving members for the conveyers, an inclined member with which the conveyers are adapted to cooperate in elevating the boards and means extending at an angle with the upward inclination of the inclined member for automatically removing the boards from the conveyers upon reaching a. given position during the downward movement of the conveyers.

9. In a lumber stacking machine, a frame work, a plurality of conveyers mounted therein, the operative runs of the conveyers being in a plane'inclined upwardly and transversely with reference to the framework, driving means for the conveyers, an inclined member with which the conveyers coiiperate, means for automatically removing the boards from the conveyers and ex tending in a direction at an angle to the upward inclination of the inclined member. and means for changing the position of the board removin'ii'means.

10. In a lumber stacking machine, a framework, a plurality of conveyers mounted therein, drivin means for the conveyers, an inclined mem er cooperating with the conveyers, a platform movable upon the inclined member, a board receiving device thereon, a device for removing boards from the conveyers and dischar ing them upon the receivin device, said card removing device inclu ing a transverse bar extending across the operative runs of the conve ers, and plates projecting from the face 0 the transverse bar and deflected toward the inclined member and then downwardly, an apron inclined from the receiving device toward the lower portions of the plates, and means for controllin the position of the platform and the device mounted thereon.

11. In a lumber stacking machine, a framework, a plurality of upwardly inclined conveyersmounted therein, the corresponding runs of said conveyers operating serews engaging the threaded devicemand means for operating the screws and conveyers.

12. In a lumber stacking machine, a framework, a plurality of conveyors mounted therein, driving means for the convoy ers, an inclined member, said member and conveyors being disposed at corresponding angles. members mot'able along the inclined n'ioinber, a platform, and a board receiving device suspended from said movablememhers, threaded devices carried by the members lastsnamed, stationary guiding means for the threaded members, a plurality of screws engagingthe threaded devices and extending para elly with reference .to the guiding means, and means foroperating the screws and eonrovers. i

13. In a lumber .stacking machine, a framework, an inclined member mounted therein, said member bcing inclined in two directions with reference to the base portiori of, the framework, a plurality of conveye rs adaptcd to move a board along the "inclined anember, and means for driving saidconveyers, the-driving means including ,a rnainshaft, a countcrshaft adapted to be' drivenin either direction with reference to the main shaft, an upper shaft, means for dri'vingfth'e latter from the countershaft,

gear wheels carried by the upper shaft, a plurality of sprocket wheels, a plurality of ear'wheels mounted respectively for drivmg theindividual sprocket. wheels, said gear wheels.last-narned meshing with the gear Wheels ,on the upper shaft, the sprocket wheels carrying said eom'eyers, and means to said member and across the face thereof,

threaded. means carried by said device and. engaged by said screws, means for rotating said screws rom the driving means, and means for (jliscontinuing the rotary movement of the screws independent of the operation of the driving means.

15. In a lumber stacking machine, a.

framework, an inclined member mounted thereon, a plurality of conveying devices for coiiperatmg with said inclined member for moving boards along the face thereof, a

platform; and a board receiving device mounted thereon, said platform being movable longitudinally with reference to the inclined member, driving means for the con veying devices, means operated thereby for changing the position of the platform and the board receiving device, means mounted adjacent. to the platform and carried by-the framework thereof for controlling the means for "a rying the position of thelpla-tform and board receiving device, said means including a shaft and winding drum, connecting members therefor, and means under the control of a workman on the latform for operating said shaft and drum or starting and stopping the operation of the controlling means.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHN BABCOCK. 

